Wednesday, Dec. 07, 2011
tUnE yArDs, 'Gangsta'
A police siren, alarms that cut in and out and children's voices kick off tUnE yArDs' "Gangsta," a rollicking anthem inspired by singer Merrill Garbus' move into a violent neighborhood — Oakland. "Gangsta" is the audible representation of what it's like to move to a big city: it's loud, it's disjointed, it doesn't feel familiar, and its dissonant sounds can make your head hurt. But eventually, those sounds coalesce in a rhythm, as wild drums and explosive horns turn "Gangsta" into a full-blown dance song. It's easily the strangest, most creative pop tune this year.